IDNT 18

Chapter 18

Layla had never felt so healthy in her life as she did today. Riding a horse, walking like this—it all felt so good. And right now, she was even smiling because she was in such a good mood.

It almost felt like being with Rainier made her healthier.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes.”

As she answered, he slowly let go of her hand and looked at her face as if to confirm.

Layla thought it was strange that Rainier seemed to be in a good mood, too. Sure, she was Hugo’s ex-lover, so she had her reasons, but she couldn’t understand why he disliked Hugo so much.

Ah, maybe…

Did he approach me because he hates Hugo?

“Now, all you have to do is stop Viscount Sonnet Bruce, Lady Layla.”

“Yes.”

Layla let out another small laugh as she recalled how they had thrown cold water on Hugo’s business, Eclair.

Reputation was everything in business. Especially for a company that imported goods through trade, a rumor about a shipwreck could be fatal.

Of course, Hugo still had land, so he wouldn’t starve even if he went bankrupt. But he might have to leave the capital.

Which was exactly what Layla wanted. In this life, she didn’t want to see Hugo ever again.

“You’re smiling.”

“I’m in a good mood.”

Rainier smiled too, meeting her gaze. For a moment, Layla found his red eyes chilling, but she tried to brush off the eerie feeling.

“Do you have a grudge against Hugo?”

“Yes.”

“Oh… I see.”

Rainier answered so quickly that Layla’s suspicions about him faded.

If he held a grudge against Hugo, his behavior made sense. Just hanging around with Hugo’s ex like her would already be uncomfortable for Hugo.

“Let’s go back now, Rain.”

“How about looking around a bit more?”

“I’m too tired for that.”

Layla did want to explore the village more. But just because she felt strong now didn’t mean she’d have energy later.

In fact, she had to be even more careful when she felt well. She never knew when she might suddenly collapse again.

Rainier was, after all, a quack doctor.

“Shall I carry you?”

“I can walk on my own.”

And with that, they quietly rode back to the mansion on horseback.

The next day arrived.

Knock knock

‘My lady, are you awake?’

“Mmm…”

Layla responded without even opening her eyes, woken by Catherine’s knocking early in the morning.

“What is it?”

‘Viscount Sonnet Bruce is here to see you.’

“Ah, I see. Send him away. I’m not feeling well…”

‘I’ll call the doctor.’

“Okay.”

With that, Layla fell back asleep.

She woke up a little past noon.

“Ugh…”

Her eyes snapped open, but her mind was still foggy. She sat up slowly, remembering how long she had slept.

“Awake now?”

“Rain?”

Layla was startled to see Rainier sitting on a chair by her bed, reading a book.

“Why are you here?”

“I’m here to help you pretend to be sick.”

“Ah…”

She remembered how he had looked at her before turning back to his book—and how she had turned down Sonnet that morning.

“I’m awake now.”

“Yes, you are.”

Even as she hinted for him to leave, he didn’t budge.

“I’m going to call my maid.”

“Yes, of course.”

Layla looked directly at him, trying to give him a hint. He met her eyes with a smile—then calmly turned back to his book.

“Catherine will come in to help me bathe.”

“As she should. You need to wash up after waking.”

“Exactly.”

Yet he still made no move to leave. Layla noticed the book he was reading was written in Balkan.

“How many languages do you speak?”

“About ten, including dead languages.”

Layla was slightly confused as to why he wasn’t lying. Since he was posing as a doctor, she expected him to say he only spoke the Imperial tongue.

“Shall I teach you too?”

“I already know Balkan.”

“You must’ve studied hard despite being sick.”

‘If you’re sick and stupid, who’s ever going to love you?’

Those were the words of her stepmother. She always acted like a loving mother when Count Avière was around—but revealed her true self when they were alone.

And she did it knowing no one would listen no matter what Layla said.

“I’ve always been stuck in my room. So I studied.”

“Want to read together?”

“No, I’m going to bathe.”

“Of course. You should.”

He stood and pulled the bell cord above her bed. Layla assumed he would leave when Catherine arrived and waited.

Soon, Catherine entered with two maids.

“Rain, you’re leaving now?”

“No.”

“I’m going to bathe.”

“Yes, please do.”

Layla was flustered by how he continued sitting there, staring at her, even as she headed toward the bathroom.

Still, she decided to bathe first. She had to walk through a passage within the room to reach the bath.

She thought he’d leave once she was inside.

As Layla walked off, Rainier turned the page of his book.

And then he saw the words on the page.

Lonely and exhausted, Layla hurried to bathe so she could see Sonnet, who had been waiting for her. She wanted to fill the void in her heart with someone who cherished her.

She went down to the drawing room. When she opened the door, she saw Sonnet Bruce kneeling with a large bouquet of roses, holding her hand.

“I was wrong, Layla.”

“Sonnet?”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be on your side before. So now… I want to be by your side forever.”

He then opened a ring box he had brought.

Inside was the marquisate’s heirloom ring, meant for the future Marchioness Bruce.

“Will you marry me?”

At his question, Layla trembled for a moment, then—

“…Yes.”

Tears of joy welled up in her eyes as she took his hand.

Thud!

Rainier threw the book across the room and clenched his fists.

“What happened?”

Catherine had returned, startled by the noise.

“I dropped something.”

Rainier smiled and calmly picked the book back up. He checked the contents.

The letters he had seen began to blur, as if melting off the page. Soon, they completely vanished.

Moments later, new letters slowly began to appear and grow darker.

Rainier read them with a cold expression.

Layla returned to her room, damp from bathing.

Rainier had buried his face in the book, unable to lift his head as she entered in a negligee.

“You’re still here?”

“You need close monitoring.”

He said that, but still didn’t lift his face from the book.

Layla found it odd, but didn’t say anything. After all, she was the one pretending to be sick to reject Sonnet.

“Um… Rain.”

“Yes?”

“I need to change.”

“Why? You’re not going outside.”

“Viscount Bruce is still in the drawing room, my lady,” Catherine said.

She had orders from the Countess to reconcile Layla and Sonnet by today, no matter what.

“He’s still here? It’s been four hours…”

“Five, actually. He’s been waiting since 8 a.m.”

Layla hadn’t expected him to wait this long. As a viscount, he must be busy with work. And he’d been frequently visiting the Count Avière’s estate because of her.

“Then I should meet him.”

“You may not.”

“Rain?”

“Absolutely not. You must not meet anyone right now.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re sick.”

Rainier accidentally lowered the book—only to quickly raise it again when he saw the water dripping from her hair and making her negligee cling to her skin.

“I think I can manage a short meeting.”

“You can’t know that. You don’t understand your condition.”

Catherine looked between them anxiously before whispering into Layla’s ear.

‘Shall I invite him here instead?’

Layla hesitated. She didn’t want to face Sonnet after what happened yesterday.

But after waiting five hours, it seemed wrong not to see him. If she used her illness as an excuse, it might be better to meet him briefly in her room and send him away politely.

“Alright.”

Catherine nodded and left quietly.

While the maids dried her hair, Layla stood up.

“Sonnet will be coming to my room.”

“…”

“So Rain, if you could please step out—”

“I’ll stay here too.”

“What?”

“I’ll stay. I’m your doctor, and you’re a patient.”

Layla didn’t understand why he was acting like this today.

“…Fine.”

Still, she couldn’t say no to him after what he had done for her yesterday.